Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Elongated Man's Stretchable Sleuth

Ralph Dibny was fascinated by contortionists as a kid, and found that one thing they all seemed to have in common was an addiction to the soft drink Gingold. Why, it would take quite a detective to put that together, based on a fixation with pliability. Could this convergence possibly lead to Ralph's isolating the active ingredient in Gingold, dosing up on the stuff regular, and enhancing his performance to become a second rate Plastic Man? Indeed!

Unlike Eel O'Brien, Ralph was only thought to be a crook when he made his debut as the Elongated Man, making fast friends with the Flash. I guess he lacked that certain something though, because he wasn't offered more than a back-up series, and it took years to land a spot on the Justice League. In the meantime, Ralph gained fame enough to attract the attention of a delightful heiress, and his marriage to Sue Dibny was about the most original and noteworthy thing about him.

From second banana to background team player, Elongated Man rode his association with the Justice League until their first volume was canceled. Even with the slim pickings available, Justice League International still left Ralph on the shelf for two years, until they needed to staff a spin-off team. Once they burned the engine up on that one, Elongated Man was retired until such a time as he and his wife could be used to fuel the tragedy in a crossover, and they were both permanently laid to rest.

3 comments:

I have Ralph Dibny article at my site, www.pop-cult.net (http://www.pop-cult.net/Wikitainment/index.php/Elongated_Man) and a blog that is all about him at http://ralphdibnytheworld-famouselongatedman.blogspot.com/

So far, my blog has 3 posts about the fist 3 Elongated man stories and how they defined Ralph's lifestyle on and off panel (they require a lot of reading between the lines). I could make a brief post recommending your blog (and other related sites if you have them) in my blog and vice versa. It would be a great mutual aid to increase our traffic.

Glad you liked the headshot I put together for DC Bloodlines. The blog looks good, and I've set you up with links in the sidebar, on the Elongated Man index, at my other blogs, and in a spotlight post.

The blog of Gypsy, Vibe, Vixen, Steel II, and the Martian Manhunter, along with Aquaman, Batman, Commander Steel, Dale Gunn, Elongated Man, Sue Dibney and Zatanna. Covering all things related to the Detroit Era membership of the Justice League of America.

Aquaman's Sea King Guide

Elongated Man's Stretchable Sleuth

Batman's Caped Crusader Catalog

Gypsy 's Runaway Index

The Steel II Schematic

Índice de Vibe

The Vixen's Lady Fox Index

The blog of Gypsy, Vibe, Vixen, Steel II, and the Martian Manhunter; along with Aquaman, Batman, Commander Steel, Dale Gunn, Elongated Man, Sue Dibney and Zatanna. Covering all things related to the Detroit Era membership of the Justice League of America. A division of THE IDOL-HEAD OF DIABOLU: A Blog For J'Onn J'Onzz, the Manhunter from Mars. All books, titles, characters, character names, slogans, logos, and related indicia are trademarks of and copyright DC Comics and/or WildStorm Productions, an imprint of DC Comics.